2011 State Convention
Radisson Inn, Bismarck ND


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NAIFA-ND 2011 Convention Speakers

Marc Siverson

Adam Hamm                       
               
Jim Kasper

Jeremy Woeste

Lynn Helms

Jim Poolman

Marc Siverson

Marc Siverson was in retail management for 30 years. Besides managing four different locations, one of his positions was recruiting, hiring and training of new managers at 130 locations. Marc started in the financial services industry in 2005.  He is self-employed and located in the Wagner Financial Services office in Bismarck, ND. With his business background, his main focus has been retirement plans for small business owners and their valuable employees. He is also available as a Human Resources advisor. His company, Professional Employment Practices Inc., specializes in helping business owners and management finding alternative methods of increasing the productivity of your staff and atmosphere of your workplace

Marc will address:

  • Interviewing techniques     
    Setting expectations           
    Educational processes in place                   
    Biggest mistakes employers can avoid                                                
    New age workers and how to motivate them and utilize their talents    .
     

Adam HammAdam Hamm

ND Insurance Commissioner

Adam W. Hamm was appointed Insurance Commissioner by Governor John Hoeven in October 2007. Hamm brings a strong and varied background to the office that includes experience both in public service and in the private sector.

Hamm's dedication and desire to serve the public was in part born out of his experiences at the Cass County State's Attorney's office. Hamm worked on the personal crimes team which prosecutes, among other things, murder, rape, robbery, assault, and child physical and sexual abuse. Seeking justice for victims and their families gave Hamm a special appreciation for public service and a keen insight into what it takes to protect the public.

Among the cases he handled during his time as a prosecutor was the prosecution of Kyle Bell for the murder of Jeanna North, an 11-year-old Fargo girl. This case ultimately resulted in a life sentence for Bell, but just as importantly, prompted the enactment of tougher laws against sex offenders in North Dakota.

Hamm has also worked as an attorney in private practice advocating for North Dakota businesses and individuals. He specialized in a number of areas, including commercial litigation, administrative agency law and transportation law.

Jeremy Woeste – Alternative Technologies Coordinator

Jeremy is an Alternative Technologies Coordinator at Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Bismarck, ND.  His primary area of work includes wind energy, distributed energy resources, and research in other renewable and alternative energies such as hydrogen and recovered energy generation.  He also markets renewable energy credits (Green Tags) and carbon credits from Basin Electric’s green and renewable energy resources. 

 Jeremy was part of the project development team for the wind projects owned by Basin Electric’s PrairieWinds subsidiaries.  Projects include 120 MW near Minot, ND (80 turbines) which was put in service in December 2009, and a 151 MW (101 turbines) scheduled to begin construction this summer in South Dakota.  With these projects, Basin Electric’s total wind resources will exceed 735 MW (500 turbines) consisting of Basin Electric owned projects and power purchases.

 Jeremy is a native of Hazen, ND and a graduate of the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.  He has served his country in the North Dakota Army National Guard.  He takes great pride in working to further educate public on renewable and alternative energies in our region and our country.

 Jeremy will provide an overview of wind energy project development and economics, and discuss where we have been, where we are presently, and where we may be headed with wind energy in the future.  Jeremy will also provide an overview of the wind and other renewable energy projects that Basin Electric is building as well as those being proposed for the future.

Lynn Helms

Lynn has served as Director of the North Dakota Industrial Commission Oil & Gas Division since July 1998 and Director of the Department of Mineral Resources since July 2005.  He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, but his oil field career began as a roughneck working summers and school holidays.  After graduation Lynn worked as a production engineer for Texaco in all of the producing areas of Montana then in 1980 he joined Amerada Hess in Williston, North Dakota.  While in Williston he worked as a production engineer, reservoir engineer, and asset team leader on projects in Abu Dhabi, Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

 

Jim Poolman

Jim Poolman was elected twice to serve as North Dakota’s Insurance Commissioner.  While Commissioner Mr. Poolman worked to strengthen laws to protect citizens against insurance fraud.  The scope of consumer protection widened,in North Dakota and nationally, by spearheadinglandmark legislation related to suitability of sales, life settlements amongst a host of others. Mr. Poolman held many leadership posts with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners during his tenure, serving as Chairman of the Life Insurance and Annuities Committee for 2 years and Vice President of the organization in 2004.  Before being elected Insurance Commissioner in 2000, Mr. Poolman served 4 terms in the North Dakota House of Representatives, and was a trust officer for the Bremer Bank system.  In 2007 Poolman left his post to start an independent regulatory consulting practice.  He advises insurance companies and producer clients on regulatory issues, and works with regulators on their behalf.  Mr. Poolman and his wife Nicole, live in Bismarck, ND with their three children, Collin, Grace and Nicholas.

Representative Jim Kasper

Jim Kasper was elected to the ND House of Representatives in November of 2000, to represent the 46th Legislative District of Fargo. A Republican, Rep. Kasper serves as a member of the Industry, Business and Labor Committee and hte Government and Veterans Affairs Committee.

During his service in the ND Legislature, Rep. Kasper has been an outspoken supporter of individual privacy rights, as well as an advocate for property tax reduction. In September of 2002, Rep. Kasper testified before the US Senate Banking Committee in Washington, DC on the privacy provisions of Gramm, Leach, Bliley in relationship to the marketing of insurance and securities products by the financial services industries.

During the 2007 ND Legislative session, Rep. Kasper was the driving force behind the successful passage by the ND Legislature of Senate Bill 2268, which regulates the Life Settlements Industry. North Dakota was the first state in the nation to successfully enact legislation to regulate the Life Settlements Industry, over strenuous lobbying efforts against the bill by numerous members of the Life Settlements Industry.

In private life, Rep Kasper is president of Asset Management Group, Inc., an employee benefits and retirement planning company. AMG pioneered Cafeteria plans in ND in 1986, designing and enrolling these plans for the colleges and universities in ND, as well as the State of ND and numerous private and public entities. Rep. Kasper is a 36 year member of the Million Dollar Round Table, having attended 24 annual meetings. He is a past recipient of the ND Life Underwriter of the Year award, the highest award bestowed by the ND Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors. He is active in numerous civic affairs and an advocate of economic development opportunities in ND.  Rep. Kasper is married to his wife Sandy, has two grown sons, Jim and Jeff.